By Sven Stein
This week Apple released the new software iOS 16 for the iPhone. Anyone who installs it will find out that the Apple cell phone has changed significantly.
Apple had already presented the iOS 16 operating system at its WWDC developer conference in early June, but it has only now been released to all users. If you want to use the software, you need at least an iPhone 8 or iPhone X (both from 2017); the iPhone SE of the second generation (2020) also gets the free update.
BZ explains how your iPhone changes when you install the new iOS, how you can customize the start screen and which hidden functions you should know about.
Customize lock screen
The most striking new feature in iOS 16 is the redesigned lock screen. Many people were uncomfortable with the enlarged time displayed in bold type. But you can change it – just like the entire lock screen can be designed according to your own wishes.
Important: This does not work with the lock screen that was already present on the iPhone before the iOS 16 update! First, a new background must be created. To do this, press and hold the lock screen, then tap on “Customize” and “Add new”.
With iOS 16, the background image can be selected individually – either you choose one of the many designs supplied or you choose your own photo. iOS 16 suggests shots that create a three-dimensional effect by slightly overlapping the time under the “Suggested Photos” heading. They can also be modified with various effects (black and white, duotone, coloring).
With iOS 16, widgets can also be added to the lock screen for the first time under the time, i.e. small information tiles that display, for example, the battery level, the weather, reminders or upcoming appointments. Attention: If you add widgets to the lock screen, the three-dimensional effect with overlapping photos is no longer possible!
Here’s how to undo it
Anyone who is bothered by the typeface of the clock on the lock screen can also change it. To do this, open the lock screen settings as described using the “Customize” button.
Then you tap on the time and you get different fonts to choose from. Among them is one that comes quite close to the previously familiar, slim display.
Incidentally, you can create multiple lock screens and switch between them as needed. Then the background image on the home screen will also change accordingly.
list messages
The arrangement of the incoming notifications is also new on the lock screen. These now accumulate in stacks at the bottom of the screen. If you don’t like that, you can also let the messages come in as a list. To do this, open the Settings app, tap → Notifications and list.
If the notifications on the lock screen are annoying, you can remove them with a swipe to the left. To review notifications, swipe up from the lock screen to open Notification Center.